Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Ingredient of the Day: Olives


Olives

When I was younger, my great grandmother would invite us over for tea. Tea for youngsters actually meant Coca Cola, olives and goldfish, but that’s exactly how we liked it. A child’s dream. My brother and I would sit at the grown-up table in our lovely pressed outfits waiting for extraordinary treats to be brought out from the kitchen. Without fail, the black olives that we loved so much would end up on our fingertips and we would eat them off one by one. Meanwhile, our great grandmother would try not to reprimand us while quietly snickering under her breath.

Traveling has really fueled my love for olives. What was once only native to the Mediterranean, Africa and Asia is now found in all parts of the world. My favorite olive is the Kalamata, which is grown in Greece and offered as a tasty snack at the beginning of each Greek meal. The Kalamata is very dark in color and small in size. And of course, a true Greek treat! Enjoy!

Happy Cooking!
Mary